Rivers Hoopers, Nigeria’s basketball powerhouse, opened their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals campaign with an 89-81 loss to Tunisia’s US Monastir in a seeding fixture at SunBet Arena on Saturday.
The KingsMen, ranked fourth entering the tournament, faced third-seeded Monastir in the fifth BAL clash between the two sides, with their previous four encounters split evenly at two wins each.
The Port Harcourt-based team started strong, narrowly taking the first quarter 16-14 despite a 35.7% field goal percentage and four turnovers. They maintained their edge in the second quarter, winning 20-18 with a 28.6% shooting rate and just one turnover, compared to Monastir’s eight, leading 36-32 at halftime.
The tide turned in the third quarter as Monastir, the nine-time Tunisian champions, erupted with a 60% field goal percentage, flipping the score to 66-62 in their favor. The fourth quarter saw Monastir sustain their momentum, outscoring Hoopers 23-19 to secure the 89-81 victory.
Despite the defeat, Hoopers’ forward Raphiael Putney led all scorers with 28 points and seven rebounds, adding one assist and one steal. Madut Akec contributed 15 points, two rebounds, one assist, and two steals, while Peter Olisemeka recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, plus three assists and one steal.
Monastir showcased a balanced attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Senegalese forward Babacar Sane led with 22 points and four rebounds, Patrick Hardy added 17 points and nine assists, Tarekeyi Edogi posted 11 points and eight rebounds, and Firas Lahyani and Osiris Eldridge chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The win secures Monastir a favorable seeding placement ahead of the BAL quarter-finals, which begin Monday.
The Hoopers aim to bounce back in their next outing when they face Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club on Monday.